Newsom, Cox Head For November

Top-Two Produces Democrat-Republican Showdown

SACRAMENTO (AP) - Democrat Gavin Newsom and Republican John Cox appear headed for a November showdown in the race to replace Jerry Brown as California governor.

Newsom, with 33.4% of the vote, led Cox, who had 26.2% percent of the vote in returns from Tuesday's primary, while Republican Travis Allen and Democrat Antonio Villaraigosa trailed. The figures are from the Secretary of State's office, which reports at least partial returns from 96.9% of the state's precincts.

Because of California's so-called jungle primary, the top two vote-getters — regardless of party — advance to a runoff in November.

Newsom is California's lieutenant governor and the former mayor of San Francisco. He was strongly favored to come in first in a race he began almost four years ago.

Cox is a businessman from the San Diego area who has never held elected office. President Donald Trump tweeted his support for him Tuesday.